Rocking-horse toy



Sept. 11, 1928.

1,684,250 G. H. TEGELBERG ROCKING HORSE TOY Filed NQV. 1, 1925 fillorm ay m Patented Sept; 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES GILBERT n. easements, or INGLEWOOD', onnrroaimi.

ROCKING-HORSE TOY.

Application filed November My invention is a rocking horse toy hav ing a springing motion up and down due to a spring action and also a direct motion forwarchtegether with steering mechanism.

An object of my invention is the construction of a rocking horse toy forchildre-n, of the type that the seat has an up and down motion with a spring toforce the seat upwardly, the childs weight forcing it downwardly.

Another object of my invent on is the construction of a rocking horse toy which will have a motion forward without any direct" driving mechanism, the up and down spring of the child giving the impetus forward and having a pawl and ratchet acting to prevent the rearward movement of the horse. I also provide a steering device operated by the childs feet to guide the horse.

My rocking horse toy is preferably constructed by having a longitudinal frame with a single rear wheel having a pawl and ratchet operating therewith; and preferably two front wheels are connected by a king bolt to the frame and may be connected to steer the device. The horse structure with a seat is pivotally connected to the front of the frame and has a compression spring connected thereto to counter balance the childs weight and thus give an up and down swinging motion. ated by the child is utilized to steer the front wheels; a snubber prevents excessive upper rebound.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fi ure 1 is a side elevation'of my toy L showing the positlon of the-child seated thereon, 1

Figure 2 1s a rear perspective.

In constructing my invention I desire to ,inake same as simple as poss ble and, there fore, build a relatively cheap toy. con struct a longitudinal frame 1 preferably made by a slat or board. This has a bracket 2 connected atits rearward end in which the rear wheel 3 is journaled. There is pref- A foot lever oper 1, 1926. seriar'no. 145,566.

ally connected to such bolt. ,YVheels 10 are suitably connected to the outer ends of the bar and may be rigidlyconnected to such ends. V

The springing horse is constructed and mounted substantially as /follows: A hinge 11 is secured to the. forward end of the frameand the slat 12 isconnected to the hinge; This slat supports a horse-shaped structure 13, this simulating the neck and head of a horse, and has a saddle 14 connected thereto,this saddle preferably hav ing a pommel 15 which the child may grasp. A compression spring 16 of the coil type is connected between the frame 1 and the slat 12, there'preferably being studs 17 which center the spring. secured to the rear end of the frame and the slat l2 prevents too, great an upward rebound.

The steering device is constructed as follows: A foot lever 19 is connected to the slat by a pivot pin 20 and is positioned to be comfortably engaged by the childs feet. Steering cords 21 connect corresponding enc s of the lever and the crossbar 9.

Tl saddle is adjustable on the slat 12 preferably by having the lower part of the saddle with a groove 22 to allow sliding motion and having a bar 23 connected thereto across the bottom of the slat provided with a thumb screw 24 to clamp the saddle.

The manner of function of my rocking horse toy is substantially as follows: It will be seen that a child may'comfortably sit on the addle with his feet on the steering lever and he may swingup-and down so that the spring is, alternately compressed and expanded,-oscillating the slat 12 up and down and giving the child an up and down rocking motion. Due to the impetus of the rocking motion the toy is forced in a for- 'ard direction but the rear wheel 3 is prevented from having a reverse motion by means of the pawl and ratchet device. In. order to steer the toythe child operates the foot leverone way or the other. pulling on the cords 21, and thus pivoting the bar 9 on the king pin. As above mentioned the strap 18 prevents excessive rebound.

Although I have shown a toy of a simple character it is to be understood that it may be elaborated in details and various features altered.

The principle of my invention may be changed without departing from the spirit The snubber strap 18 low lllf

' free rotary movement in one direction thereofas set forth in the description of the wheels on the crossbar one at each end there of, a slut hingedly connected to the frame adjacent the crossbar, a saddle mounted on the slat, and a spring connecting the slat and the frame. D

2. A rocking horse toy as claimed in claim .L a foot lever pivotally connected to the slat, and meansconnecting said lever and the crossbar to allow steering.

3. A rocking horse toy comprising in cornhination, a longitudinal frame having. a wheel at the rear end, aratchet on said wheel, a pawl on the frame engaging the ratchet, a crossbar pivotally connected to the forward end of the frame, a slat hinged- 1y connected to the forward end of the frame and having a saddle thereon, a comprew'on spring between the frame and the, slat, and means operatively connected to the slat to actuate the crossbar to steer the toy.

4. A rockin horse toy as claimed in claim 3, the saddle lieing slidably mounted on the slat and having means to clamp same in adust-ed position.

5. A rocking horse toy comprising in combination, a longitudinal frame having a Wheel at the rear end, a pawl and ratchet connection with said wheel, a crossbar pivotally connected to the forward end; of the frame and having wheels in each end, a slat hingedly connected to the forward end of the frame and having-a seat slidably mounted thereonfa compression 5 ring between'the slat and the frame, a foot lever pivotally connected to t he slat and flexible connections between said lever andthe crossbar to steer the toy. I I 1 In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GILBERT H. TEGELBERG: I 

